54. KADENCE

KADENCE

F ighting them was never a good idea. Trying to run was an even worse one as soon as I found out about the flight. About his plan to steal me away from Pine River. Now, my hands are bound to the chair I woke up in, my feet bound to the legs and my head pounding from the second hit I took.

Everything still feels foggy but it isn't the time to give into my body’s need to curl up into a ball and take it. I’m done with the abuse from a man who never deserved me in the first place. There has to be a way out of this.

The room is still pitch black other than the light above me. Jeremy and Watson had left hours ago, leaving me here in this dark hell hole with nothing but the sound of chirping rats. If I can just figure out something, a way to get out of the binds I can make a run for it and pray they aren’t watching me.

I tug on the binds again. Zip-ties that dig into my wrists and ankles. The chair they tied me to is wood, if I can just get it to tip over, hard enough to break I can get out of this. My heart starts to race in my chest with the hope of being able to get out. I’ve got one chance.

Closing my eyes I take a deep steadying breath, letting every thought racing through my mind quiet down before picking out noises in the silence. Rats, water dripping, the distant sound of a train on tracks. But no sounds of footsteps, no rattle of anything human.

Slowly, I start to rock the chair, using my feet to wobble back and forth, the legs whine underneath my weight as I move. With one more final shove, I start to tip over faster than intended. My shoulder lands first into the concrete floor and the chair doesn’t budge.

“Fuck!” I hiss as pain radiates through my shoulder and down to my fingers. Tugging on the binds again I can’t help but let out a soft sob. None of them budge. I’m still strapped to this fucking thing only now, I’m on my side and my shoulder feels like it’s popped out of place.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit.” The words come out strained in a whine while holding back tears. My eyes slide close and any ounce of hope of saving myself, saving the baby, leaves my body.

I’m not sure how long I stay on the floor like that but my arm has gone numb and the musty smell of the room is worse down here. My stomach churns just as the door to the building slams closed. I can already tell it’s Jeremy. The way his boots thud across the floor, like a ticking time bomb just waiting for the right moment to explode.

“What the fuck did you do?” Jeremy hisses coming into the light. His anger is quickly replaced with a cackle. “Did you think you could actually get away from me?” Long fingers tangle into the back of my hair, tugging my head back so I have to look at him. “You stupid bitch.”

“Get off of me,” I snap trying to pull away from him but it’s no use. The grip he has on me tightens, pulling an involuntary yelp from me as he drags me back up onto all four legs on the chair. I suck in a breath as fire radiates through my shoulder blade and pins and needles start to prickle down my arm. “Why are you doing this?” I ask harshly. “Why the fuck do you still want me?”

“Because you’re mine and you owe me the life I promised you,” Jeremy’s voice booms across empty space. “Don’t you get it Kadie–”

“Don’t fucking call me that!” I pull at the restraints, trying to lunge at him even though I know it’s completely useless.

He freezes in front of me, the table is the only thing separating us. “I forgot. Your mother is the only one that gets to call you that.” A sickening grin spreads across his face. “You know I reached out to her. To try and find you but, like the ungrateful bitch you are, not even your mother knew. Who does that?” Jeremy shakes his head. “Just up and leaves their family?”

I let out a huff of frustration. “My mother never cared about my whereabouts.”

His head tilts as he regards me. “Are you sure about that, Princess? Janice was pretty upset to find out you’d gone missing.” He rounds the table and sits on the edge of it. Getting closer to me. “I assume you got her text message?”

I look up at him with my brows furrowed. The look in his eye has a sinking feeling that starts to riddle my gut.

“Well, I mean the text message I sent you.” That wolfish smirk finds his lips as all of his teeth show. “See, Janice was beside herself that you left. All woe is me, I should have been a better mother .” He makes a face of disgust. “Honestly, it was quite exhausting. After the third hour of that lunch I was tired of hearing it.”

He shrugs like whatever he isn’t saying is obvious. “All I wanted was to know where you ran off to. To know why my sweet sweet obedient princess would just leave me to rot in jail.”

“What did you do?”

Jeremy continues like I haven’t said anything. “When she had no idea where you went I had to end her blubbering.” He crosses his arms and lets out a long drawn out sigh. “Messier than I would have liked, but it got the job done.”

I stare at him, tears prick at the corners of my eyes as the realization that he killed my mother starts to set in. “You killed her?”

“Looks like your mother had a heart for you after all.” Jeremy shakes his head. “Too bad she won’t be around to share it with you.”

“You son of a bitch!” I scream just as a large hand impacts my cheek. His fingers wrap around my chin, squeezing painfully as he pulls my face to his.

“Watch your tone with me, Kadence. My patience with you is already wearing extremely thin.” He lets me go, shoving my head back as he does so. “We have six hours before Watson’s plane will be ready and if you don’t want to spend that time with a bag over your head, I suggest you shut the fuck up.”

I glare at him, twisting my wrists against the plastic ties trying anything to stretch it enough in order to get free. He stares at me.

“I feel bad Maria got caught up in this as well,” he says and that switch flips back off as he sits back down on the edge of the table. “She’s a good friend. Keeping secrets for you. Helping you leave…it’s too bad she was attacked.” He tuts.

My eyes narrow at him, biting my tongue to keep myself from saying something that will send him over the edge. If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d fight like hell. But with the baby, this had to be strategic. As much as I can figure out on my own. I won’t do anything to lose this baby. Not like I did the first and I sure as hell would not give Jeremy the satisfaction of knowing he killed another one of my children. Even if he blames me.

“Don’t worry though, sweetheart, I made sure she had the best room in the ICU.” He leans into me again as he says the words. Those dark hateful eyes holding my own.

“I’m going to kill you,” I spit.

“I’d like to see you fucking try,” Jeremy says standing. The door slams closed and Watson walks in the room, glancing between the two of us. I notice another person standing behind Watson, just within the shadows.

“Did you get what you needed?” Jeremy asks, rounding the table.

Watson nods, tugging the person forward. Bright red hair and snake eyes come into view under the dim light as Layla stares back at me. A smug smile pulling at her poorly painted lips.

“You went back for this?” Jeremy barks glaring at the woman who has done nothing but try to get between Holden and I for weeks. Only now, her fingers are laced between Watson’s and she stands just far enough behind him like he’ll protect her if anything goes wrong.

Watson glances back at Layla, rolling his eyes. “Didn’t have much of a choice. She’s been burned.”

“O’Neil and Nash are going to figure out I gave her up soon enough. Jake offered me protection to get to Miami.” She smiles so sweetly that my teeth ache in the worst way possible. Everything starts to click together.

“You told Watson when the guys left. When it would be safe to raid the clubhouse,” I say, shooting a look at Layla. “And when Wyatt and I left.”

Those snake eyes turn to me with nothing but hatred flowing in them. “Fuckers are stupid enough to believe I wasn’t fucking Watson outside of the club?” She cackles. “Every run they’ve had fucked up was because of me,” She says proudly like she’s actually done something good.

“For what reason?” I bite. “So you can claim your fame as Pine River’s best cock sucker?”

Layla screeches and lunges towards me and in a flash is yanked back by Watson. His arm holds tight around her waist as Layla struggles against him. “You cunt!” Layla screeches. “Nash will never love you!”

My eyes turn to slits at Layla. “He never loved you , Layla. He used you to warm his dick, that’s it.” The words come out just as harsh as I mean them and only egg on Layla’s struggles against Watson’s arms.

“You’re going to pay for that you bitch!” She screams.

“Ladies!” Jeremy barks. “Shut the fuck up both of you.” He leans over the table and glares at Layla. “Get your shit together or you’ll end up tied to a chair next to her.” The threat lands because Layla’s eyes go wide and her struggle stops. “Watson, what's the status on the plane?”

“We have five hours,” he mutters, letting Layla go without care. She stumbles to gain balance as her eyes stay glued on me.

“Good, keep your whore on her leash,” Jeremy bites.